Single-wheel vehicle.



No. 665,434. Patented Ian. 8, l90l. m. R. HEATHERLY.

SINGLE WHEEL VEHICLE.

(Application filed Sept: 21. 1900.\

'(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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M. n." H EATHERLY. SINGLE WHEEL VEHICLE.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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IL R. HEATHEBLY.

SINGLE wHE'gL VEHICLE.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MITCHELL R. HEATHERLY, OF MUNDELL, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO ROBERT MALONEY, JOSEPH B. REYNOLDS, AND ROWAN G.

HUFFMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SING LE-WH EEL VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 665,434, dated January 8, 1901.

Application filed September 21, 1900. Serial No. 30,673. (No model.)

To all whom it Wmy concern.-

Be it known that I, MITCHELL R. HEATH- ERLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mundell, in the county of Carroll and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Single-Wheel Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the an- I0 nexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a single-wheel vehicle adapted for attachment to a harness upon a horse, whereby the vehicle may take the place of horseback riding or cycling, and that will possess strength and durability and at the same time be simple in construction and the tongue or main portion of the vehicle so connected to the harness that it will adapt itself to the motion of the horse and give ease to the rider.

The invention consists in a single-wheel vehicle constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a View showing my improved single-wheel vehicle connected to the harness of a horse and the driver supo ported by the stirrups of the wheel in the act of driving; Fig. 2, a detail View of the curved tongue and its connections; Fig. 3, a detail View of the tongue and its connections, showing it adapted for ladies use; Fig. 4, a detail 3 5 View, partly in section and on an enlarged scale, showing the pivotal connection between the tongue and harness, saddle, or yoke thereof; Fig. 5, a detail sectional view of the pivotal connection; Fig. 6, a detail view, partly in dotted lines, showing the connection between the wheel and the curved tongue; Fig. 7, a sectional view through the wheel-hub; Fig. 8, a plan view of the pivoted support; Fig. 9, a plan view of the handle-bars; Fig. 5 10, a sectional view of the stirrup and toeguard; Fig. 11, a detail View of the seat and its connections; Fig. 12, a plan view of the ladys seat and supporting-bracket; Fig. 13, a detail view of the gentlemans seat; Fig. 14, a detail view of a portion of the driving-rein.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a curved tongue of any suitable construction and of any desirable length and thickness and of any preferred material found best adapted to the purpose. This tongue A 5 5 at its upper and outer end connects with a suitable harness upon the horse and at its lower end connects with a suitable wheel B, thereby forming a coupling between the harness and the wheel, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper and outer end of the tongue A has connected to its under side a plate 0 by means of a suitable clip a or by any other well-known means. This plate C may be pivotally connected to a pivot-support D, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, or, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it may be connected to a slotted arm E by means of a suitable pin 1), said arm in turn being pivoted to the pivot-support D, thereby admit- 7o ting of a longitudinal movement of the tongue and also a movement up or down, as necessity requires.

It will be noticed that the tongue A has three separate and distinct movementsviz., a movement sidewise or laterally through its connection with the pivoted support D, a movement up and down on an arc of a circle through its connection with the pivoted arm E, and said arm being slotted, as shown at 0, enables the tongue to move lengthwise. These movements of the tongue A adapt it to the movement of the horse and render it easy for the rider in passing over uneven or rough ground or over any obstruction.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any special means of connecting the end of the tongue A to the harness or harness-saddle, as indicated at F, as any suitable means may be resorted to without 0 departing from the principle of my invention, so long as the tongue is capable of the required motion to adapt it to the rider.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the slotted arm E is dispensed with, and consequently the lengthwise movement of the tongue A, as in some instances, may not be required.

The pivot-support D, which may be of any desirable construction, is connected to the harness-saddle F in any manner found best adapted to the purpose, any such changes or modifications being left entirely to the judgment of the manufacturer, and as the barness may be variously changed in form and construction, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The plate 0 has a guide-loop (I, through which the driving-reins G pass or extend and also through one or more loops 6 upon the sides of the tongue A, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

To the lower and outer end of the tongue A is adjustably connected a coupling-standard H by a suitable clip f or by any other means found most desirable. The standard H is suitably connected to a fork g of the wheel 13, but preferably by means of a fiatsided or square-shaped shank, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, although other means may be employed without affecting the essential features of the invention.

The wheel B has stirrups I to support the feet of the rider, which stirrups may be of any suitable form and construction, as may also the handles J, said handles being connected to the tongue A by a suitable clip h or by any other well-known means that will admit of their adjustment and removal, or, if desired, the handles may be permanently secured to the standard, as found desirable.

In referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings it will be seen that the fiat-sided shank s of the standard H engages a correspondi ngly-formed opening in the forward end of the fork g,

whereby a rigid connection is made between the fork and end of the standard. If desired, a foot-stirrup K of the form shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings may be substituted for that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the same having the spring-supportt',a stirrup being mounted on each end of the spring-support, thereby providing the necessary elasticity. The portion 15 of the spring-support i, which is midway between the stirrups, is formed square or fiat-sided and fits within a correspondinglyformed opening, whereby the support will be prevented from turning in its bearing, and thereby prevent any pivot or other like motion except that which comes from the elasticity of the spring-supportt'.

The reins G may have a plurality of perforations for the purpose of securing buttons thereto for convenience in handling them.

The seat L, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, is adapted for the use of a lady, and the seat M, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings, is especially designed for a gentlemans use. I do not desire to limit my invention to any special form of seat, and a bracket N may be employed upon the tongue A for detachably connecting the seat thereto, said bracket having a loop Z, with which engages a suitable hook k, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

I have shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the support D as pivoted to the yoke m of the harness-saddle F, although it may be connected in any other desirable manner found most practical in a vehicle of this special con struction.

In Fig. 7 is shown one of many means that may be employed for connecting the wheel to the fork g, the hub-bearings n being frustoconical to correspond with the bearing-faces of the hub 0 of the wheel. Tightening up the nut 17 on the axle-rod 0' will draw the hubbearings n against the bearing-faces of the hub, and thus compensate for wear.

I do not, however, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any special construction of wheel and its immediate connections, as the parts may be variously modified and changed without in any manner affecting the practical and successful operation of the vehicle, and any changes or modifications of the invention in its various details of construction may be resorted to without in any manner departing from the essential features thereof.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A single-wheel vehicle, consisting of a curved tongue pivotally connecting with the harness, a single wheel connecting with the lower extremity of the tongue, and stirrups located directly over the axle of the wheel and substantially on line therewith to form a support for the driver without the aid of the usual vehicle-seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A single-wheel vehicle, consisting of a curved tongue connecting with the harness, a single wheel connecting with the lower extremity of the tongue, stirrups located di rectly over the axle of the wheel, and suitable handles or hand-grasps connecting with the tongue, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A single-wheel vehicle, consisting of a suitable tongue connecting with the harness, a single Wheel connecting with the lower extremity of the tongue, stirrups located directly over the axle of the wheel, suitable handles or hand-grasps connecting with the tongue, and a suitable seat connecting with the tongue below the handles or hand-grasps, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A single-wheel vehicle, consisting of a tongue suitably connecting with the harness, acoupling-stand'ard upon the lower extremity of the tongue, a fork connected to the standard, a single wheel connecting with the fork, and stirrups located directly over the axle of the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A single-wheel vehicle, consisting of a tongue suitably connecting with the harness, a coupling-standard upon the lower extremity of the tongue, a fork connected to the standard at the lower end thereof, a single wheel connecting with the fork, stirrups located directly over the axle of the wheel, and suitable handles or hand-grasps connected to the tongue, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A single-wheel vehicle, consisting of a suitable tongue connecting with the harness, handles or hand-grasps adj ustably connected to the tongue, a coupling-standard adjustable upon the lower extremity of the tongue, at single Wheel connecting with the standard, and stirrups located directly over the axle of the Wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A single-Wheel vehicle, consisting of a tongue connecting With the harness, suitable handles or hand-grasps connecting with the tongue, a single wheel connecting with the lower extremity of the tongue, and stirrups located directly over the axle of the wheel, and spring-supports for said stirrups, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A single wheel vehicle, comprising a curved tongue connecting with the harness of a horse whereby it will have a sidewise and an up-and-down movement, guide-loops upon the tongue for the driving-reins, handle-bars connected to the tongue, a suitable saddle detachably secured to the tongue, and a wheel with stirrups connecting with the tongue, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. A single-wheel vehicle, comprising a curved tongue, means for connecting the tongue with the harness, consisting of a piv oted support and a pivoted connection between the end of the tongue and the support, guide-loops upon the tongue to receive the drivingreins, a suitable seat detachably connected to the tongue, handle-bars connected to the tongue, a coupling-standard connected to the lower end of the tongue, and a suitable wheel connecting withtlie standard and provided With suitable stirrups for the feet of the driver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

MITCHELL R. HEATHERLY.

Witnesses:

WADE H. JAMES, C. A. FULLER. 

